Why do I have bags under my eyes? (English)

Swelling of the area under the eyes is a very common problem that causes a lot of inconvenience. The subcutaneous tissue in these places has a very loose structure and contains almost no collagen fibers. In addition, the skin under the eyes is constantly subject to compression and stretching - when a person closes his eyes, blinks, etc. All this creates the preconditions for the appearance of so-called bags, which give the face a tired and painful appearance and visually add age.

The immediate causes of fluid accumulation in the under-eye area can be very different - from easily removable flaws in the daily routine to serious diseases of the internal organs.

Power supply errors

People suffering from swelling of the areas around the eyes often attribute this to excessive fluid intake. This reason does indeed occur, but not always. The body only retains excess fluid that was drunk immediately before bed - then the kidneys simply do not have time to remove the water. However, swelling is observed both in “water drinkers” and, on the contrary, in people who limit fluid intake: because of this, the body begins to reduce the activity of the kidneys in order to create water reserves in the tissues.

Fluid retention in the body is also facilitated by excessive indulgence in smoked, spicy and salty foods, and alcoholic drinks.

Household reasons

Puffiness of the undereyes often occurs as a result of the most common life events. It can be caused by:

fatigue of the eye muscles after prolonged work at the computer, reading, sewing, doing small handicrafts, driving a car;
lack of sleep or interrupted night rest;
prolonged crying (especially against the background of severe nervous strain);
incorrect posture while sleeping. Thus, the habit of sleeping without a pillow contributes to the formation of bags under the eyes;
being in a smoky room (including active or passive smoking);
entry into the eye of a foreign body or contact with an aggressive agent (acid, hot fat, caustic vapors).

A bag under the eye can be the result of a head injury (most often in the forehead, bridge of the nose or temple). Moreover, swelling sometimes plays the role of a protective cushion, protecting the eye from force. However, this phenomenon should not be considered positive, since the subcutaneous tissue, oversaturated with fluid, is easily infected.

Excessive passion for cosmetics

Abuse of cosmetics by representatives of the fairer sex creates additional factors contributing to the appearance of bags under the eyes. The reason may be:

excessive amounts of foundation, powder or shadows on the eyelids and area around the eyes, as well as incomplete removal of decorative cosmetics before bedtime;
use of poorly selected or low-quality cosmetics;
improper use of moisturizers. Each such product contains from 80 to 90% water. When applying too thick a layer of cream to the face, some of the liquid may be absorbed into the skin and create swelling;
cosmetic procedures. So-called beauty injections based on botulinum toxin (“Botox”, “Dysport”) create temporary disruptions in the lymphatic drainage system and contribute to the appearance of subcutaneous fluid accumulations.

Puffiness under the eyes can occur in women at the end of the menstrual cycle due to excess estrogen. In expectant mothers, swelling is often observed in the later stages of pregnancy, when the kidneys have difficulty coping with the increased load and do not remove water from the body quickly enough.

Physiological features

Some people have a hereditary trait - excess fat content in the subcutaneous tissue. Because of this, their eyes always look slightly swollen, which has nothing to do with their state of health.

Swelling of the area under the eyes can also appear if you are overweight, as well as in old age due to changes in the structure of the skin and a decrease in the tone of the eye muscles.

Allergy

If swelling under the eyes is accompanied by lacrimation, pain in the eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing, photophobia and redness of the eyelids, the cause may be an allergic reaction. Tap water, pet hair, plant pollen, food products, and medications often act as aggressive agents.

In this situation, discomfort and bags under the eyes disappear when contact with the allergen ceases. Antihistamines and anti-itching creams or gels will help speed up recovery. But medications must be prescribed by a doctor.

Eye pathologies

Edema often occurs against the background of eye diseases, such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, scleritis, ptosis, ectropion and malignant neoplasms.

Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity or sinuses

If an unsightly bag forms under only one eye, this often occurs due to infection of nearby tissues - an abscess in the oral cavity, flux, inflammation of the gums, a purulent process in the nasal sinus, inflammation of the facial nerve or lacrimal gland.

Intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine

When the cause of swelling is a herniated disc, the cosmetic defect is accompanied by:

impaired coordination of movements;
weakness;
persistent headaches and other pains;
feeling of “goosebumps” all over the body;
pain in the cervical spine;
stiffness;
disruption of the peripheral nervous system. This is manifested by a change in the sensitivity of certain areas of the body.

The listed symptoms appear gradually, and in the initial stages of the disease, puffiness under the eyes may be its only sign.

Kidney diseases

Edema due to dysfunction of the urinary system is sometimes called free-floating due to the ability to move from one area of the body to another. At the same time, bags under the eyes regularly appear in the morning. Uniform swelling of the face is also observed (patients notice imprints of the folds of bed linen on the skin after sleep).

As the disease progresses, other symptoms develop: a decrease in the amount and change in the color of urine, dysuria, and increased blood pressure. “Renal” edema is considered particularly difficult to treat.

Liver pathologies

Liver diseases are manifested not only by accumulations of fluid under the eyes, but also by swelling of the hands (especially fingers). In addition, patients complain:

for nausea, belching;
a feeling of bitterness in the mouth;
for pain in the hypochondrium on the right.

People suffering from liver pathologies may experience changes in the color of the skin and sclera (yellowness), as well as urine (darkens) and feces (becomes light). Such conditions are dangerous because they clearly manifest themselves when the disease is already thoroughly advanced.

Problems with the heart and blood vessels

Cardiovascular pathologies are manifested by cyanosis or pallor of the skin, unilateral swelling of the face, instability of blood pressure, tachycardia, shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, pain in the heart, and a feeling of coldness in the extremities.

If bags under the eyes are accompanied by evening swelling of the lower legs (legs, ankles and feet), as well as the listed symptoms, this is an alarming sign that requires immediate consultation with a doctor.

Vitamin deficiency

Swelling under the eyes may indicate a lack of vitamin B5 in the body. Along the way, headaches and muscle pain, fatigue, numbness of the feet, insomnia, and depression are observed.

In this case, you need to take vitamin preparations or brewer's yeast, as well as include in the diet milk, eggs, green vegetables, buckwheat and hazelnuts, which are natural sources of this vitamin.

The causes of swelling under the eyes are not always harmless. Such a cosmetic defect can be a consequence of serious problems in the body. If bags under the eyes occur regularly, this is a good reason for a medical examination.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Good day, my dear readers. I think that you will not deny that the beauty of your face directly depends on the health of your skin. The most capricious area of the face is the area around the eyes. This is where the first signs of skin aging appear - crow's feet, bags and dark circles. Something needs to be done about this. To begin with, I propose to understand why bags under the eyes of women appear. It’s not for nothing that they say: informed means armed 😉

Why do bags appear under the eyes?

This problem can be caused by various factors. Often it serves as a symptom of serious diseases occurring in the body. There are the main reasons that cause swelling of the eyelids in women:

Glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis and other kidney pathologies. Because the kidneys stop functioning properly, fluid accumulates in the body. Naturally, this leads to swelling, including the eyelid area. The surest way to deal with bags is to consult a doctor to be cured of kidney pathologies.
Allergic reaction. Swelling can occur when an allergy-causing substance is inhaled or through the conjunctiva. This reaction can occur after using low-quality skincare and decorative cosmetics. If the problem is caused by cosmetics, you need to replace them with better products. If even after this the swelling does not go away, you need to go to an allergist.

Diabetes. Swelling occurs when glucose levels increase. To eliminate the problem, you need to normalize your blood sugar.
Strict diet. Wanting to be slim, women follow very strict nutritional systems. During such weight loss, the body does not receive enough nutrients that are important for it. As a result, this is reflected in the skin - it becomes pale and thinned. Hyperpigmentation appears on it. To cope with this problem, you need to replenish your diet with foods rich in vitamins A, K, E, C. Food containing zinc and iron will also help remove puffiness and dark circles.
Changes in hormonal levels. Swelling can be observed several days before menstruation, as well as during pregnancy. When carrying a baby, you need to consult a doctor.

ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC:

Why do they form under the eyes in healthy women?

Even healthy women have eyelids that swell from time to time. This could be due to various factors. Most often it is lack of sleep. The recommended sleep duration is 7-8 hours. If you do not get enough sleep regularly, this will lead to exhaustion of the body and weight gain.

Lack of sleep causes overstrain of the eye muscles. As a result, their oxygen demand increases

The body triggers hyperperfusion in this area of the body. Dark circles appear under the eyes. Against the background of pale skin (this is exactly what it becomes due to chronic lack of sleep), the bruises will be clearly visible.

Prolonged wakefulness leads to lymphostasis and venous stagnation. Bags appear under the eyes. Quality rest and correction of sleep patterns help cope with this problem.

In addition, prolonged stay at the computer can provoke the formation of bluish bags in the eyelid area. A high-risk group includes girls who sit in front of a monitor all day. Due to severe eye strain, blood flow increases. As a result, the vessels expand and are more clearly visible through the thin skin. At the same time, swelling is observed.

To get rid of this problem, it is important to take regular breaks from work. During such breaks, I advise you to go out into the fresh air. And don’t be lazy – do eye exercises every day.

Here are simple gymnastics for bags and circles under the eyes. You can do this exercise every day.

In addition, swelling can be provoked by ultraviolet radiation. The body, wanting to retain moisture, accumulates it in the fat layer. Therefore, sunbathers should think about whether their hobby is safe.

Reasons for appearing in the morning

This problem can be caused by the following factors:

Accumulation of fluid in the body. Usually the eyelids become puffy in the morning if you eat salty food at night. As you know, salt retains water inside the body, which is why edema occurs. The same effect is observed after drinking alcohol before bed. By eliminating the consumption of salty foods and alcohol, you can prevent the development of this problem.
Incorrect position of the head during sleep. When you sleep, your head should be slightly higher than your body. Otherwise, in the morning you will be looking at a swollen face in the mirror. To avoid this, take your choice of pillow seriously.
Not drinking enough water during the previous day. As paradoxical as it sounds, to avoid bags under your eyes, you need to drink enough water. If you don't drink enough, your body begins to store liquid in reserve, like a camel 🙂 The minimum daily intake is 2 liters. In this case, 2/3 of this volume should be consumed before 2 pm.
Tears before bed. They say that crying is sometimes useful, because with tears the body is freed from toxins. But I don’t recommend doing this before bed. You won't look very attractive in the morning.
If you don't remove makeup in the evening. The skin will not rest at night and swelling will appear after sleep. To prevent this from happening, use micellar water to remove makeup.
Oxygen starvation. This problem is more often encountered by those women who spend most of their time indoors. And also those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. To prevent this from happening, spend more time in the fresh air and play sports.

I think you will be interested in this educational video. Be sure to watch it.

What do permanent bags under the eyes mean?

It turns out that the color of the skin in the eye area can tell a lot about a woman’s health. And also choose an effective remedy to combat this problem.

By the way, cosmetologists use a rapid test that determines the causes of such puffy dark circles. You need to gently press the lower eyelid with your fingertips. Then the skin should be slightly pulled down and held in this position for half a minute.

If the skin darkens after such a procedure, then the reason is rooted in age-related changes. If its color remains unchanged, the problem is caused by an allergen. But circles that have become less noticeable indicate that you have a problem with blood vessels.

More often, puffiness of reddish, brownish, yellowish or bluish tints occurs under the eyes. Why they appear and how to remove them, I will tell you. A lot of useful information on this matter is contained in the article “how to get rid of dark circles using cosmetic methods.”

Blue circles

Bruises often appear due to a hereditary predisposition. Typically, such women have very thin skin on their eyelids. Capillaries are visible through it. They give blue to this area of the face.

Bruises can also be caused by deterioration of venous outflow. Their presence may indicate that cerebral circulation is impaired. They also indicate that there are problems with blood pressure.

Moreover, blueness under the eyes is observed due to lack of sleep. This “beauty” can occur after prolonged work at the computer or as a result of recent stress. Blue circles are also observed in pregnant women and women whose bodies are experiencing strong hormonal changes. Those who have bad habits - smoking, abusing alcohol - may face the same problem.

In some cases, therapy should be aimed at eliminating the root cause of the problem, and the bags will go away on their own. And sometimes it’s enough just to change your lifestyle by giving up bad habits. For details on what needs to be done at home, read this article.

Brown circles

Such dark bags are in most cases nothing more than pigmentation. Melanin is simply unevenly distributed on the skin. Typically, this phenomenon is encountered by those ladies who have impaired pigmentation. Sunbathers are also susceptible to this problem.

Moreover, a brownish tint to the eyelids can be observed with vitamin deficiency. This happens with poor nutrition, and also when girls go on strict diets.

Diseases of internal organs can also provoke brown circles. Therefore, if, after tidying up your diet, you do not notice any improvements, do not hesitate. Seek help from your doctor. He will refer you for diagnostics, and based on the results, he will prescribe medications. If you follow the doctor's instructions, you can remove even large dark bags.

Red circles

One of the reasons for this phenomenon is infectious and inflammatory diseases occurring in the body. These include adenovirus infection, sinusitis and conjunctivitis.

Also, redness on the lower eyelids is observed due to microhemorrhages in the blood vessels located under the eyes. The released red blood cells are oxidized. As a result, the area turns reddish-purple.

Red circles also appear in women with a hereditary predisposition. Usually such women have snow-white, delicate skin. It is very thin in the eye area. Therefore, here the skin is translucent, and the blood capillaries underneath are clearly visible.

If the problem is provoked by dysfunction of certain organs and systems, then you will not be able to cope with “beauty” on your own. First you need to eliminate the disease - the root cause. After this, the red circles usually go away.

Yellow circles

Yellowness under the eyes develops under the influence of the following factors:

excessive stress;
high levels of carotene;
problems with the gallbladder or liver;
lack of rest;
dysfunction of the circulatory system;
prolonged exposure to direct sunlight;
bad habits - excessive drinking and smoking.

If the problem is not caused by serious illnesses, it is enough to get rid of bad habits and rest. Usually the circles go away pretty quickly. Homemade cosmetics and folk recipes will help speed up the process.

And yellowness in the lower eyelids, caused by pathologies of internal organs and systems, requires additional medical intervention. The doctor will monitor the situation throughout the treatment, focusing on the patient’s condition and test results.

I think that today's article will be very useful to you. Now you can constantly monitor the condition of your eyelid skin. And if necessary, act immediately to prevent the situation from worsening. Be sure to send a link to the article to your friends - they also want to look perfect. And don't forget to subscribe for updates. And that’s all I have for today: bye-bye!

9 comments

Eyes are a mirror not only of the soul, but also of the body. The condition of the skin around the eyes, along with the skin of the arms and neck, is used to estimate a woman’s age. And since it is the face that people first pay attention to, shining, healthy eyes are a necessary condition for the good mood of any self-respecting woman.

Then what to do with the circles and bags under the eyes that periodically or constantly “decorate” a woman’s face? To begin with, you should understand the reason for their appearance and only then begin to actively eliminate them.

Bruises and bags under the eyes: why do they appear in women?

It is impossible not to notice them!

Celebrations or a party at a club, too much salt or a glass of water right before bed, basic lack of sleep or a night spent in tears. All these situations, as a rule, end with an unsightly appearance in the morning - a swollen face, blackened eyes. The easiest way to deal with this problem is by methods that will be discussed below.

It’s another matter when a similar condition of the skin around the eyes occurs every morning for a long time or, even worse, persists all the time. There can be many reasons for this.

External causes and risk factors

Most often, dark circles or bags under the eyes are a result of lifestyle. The causes of dark circles under the eyes in women are as follows:

constant exposure to stress, especially if sleep patterns are disturbed (insomnia, night awakenings, etc.), chronic fatigue;
unhealthy diet - excessive consumption of salty foods (including homemade preparations containing salt and vinegar), abuse of spices, smoked foods, as well as strict diets and fasting;
improper water regime - basic dehydration (insufficient fluid intake) can lead to the appearance of dark circles, and excessive drinking of water before bed can lead to swollen eyes in the morning;
eye fatigue - working at a computer for a long time or reading books at night, especially in low light;
incorrect head position during night rest - too high a pillow or the habit of sleeping without it;
smoking leads to poor circulation, including in the head, and increased poisoning by tars and other harmful substances is reflected in the eyes in the form of dark circles;
alcohol - negatively affects the vascular bed, regular consumption of alcohol (even weak and in small doses) leads to puffiness of the face and constant swelling of the eyelids;
reaction to cosmetics - the use of fatty creams on the skin around the eyes, and even everyone’s favorite lubrication of eyelashes with castor oil, often leads to bags under the eyes, and individual hypersensitivity even to high-quality cosmetics cannot be ruled out;
inappropriate hygiene - few people have not “sinned” by leaving a layer of makeup on at night; a constantly practiced bad habit threatens the early appearance of wrinkles on the face, bruises and bags around even young eyes.

When the reasons inside us are about illnesses

The cause of circles and bruises under the eyes is illness!

Deterioration of the normal condition of the eyes - even greater darkening of the lower eyelid, severe swelling - without visible external influence indicates the possible development of the disease. Abnormalities in the body that cause puffiness of the eyes and the appearance of dark circles under the eyes:

Dark circles under the eyes are often caused by a too thin membrane located between the subcutaneous fat layer and the skin itself. In this case, symptoms accompany a woman’s life from childhood.

Darkening under the eyes is often almost the only sign of the initial stage of anemia. If it appears for a long time, it is necessary to exclude a decrease in hemoglobin.

Hypersensitivity can develop not only to cosmetics, but also to pollen, food, and some medications. In this case, swelling of the eyes is often accompanied by itching, watery eyes, redness of the eyelids and eyeballs, coughing, and sneezing.

Inflammatory diseases in the head area

Puffiness of the eyes is a sign of sinusitis or sinusitis. In this case, nasal breathing is always impaired, and pain occurs when tilting the head.

Pathology of the blood vessels of the head

Arachnoiditis, ischemic damage to the cerebral vessels, migraines and other head diseases are sometimes accompanied by severe pain, nausea, dark circles and bags under the eyes.

Pathology of the thyroid gland, hormonal imbalance associated with increased synthesis of estrogen (sex hormone) often manifests itself as irritability, general weakness, menstrual irregularities and swelling of the face. Dark circles under the eyes, caused by hormonal changes, are characteristic of adolescence, and during pregnancy, due to the increased load on the kidneys, swelling of the eyelids often appears.

Different heart diseases affect the face differently. Thus, heart disease is often accompanied by pale skin and dark blue circles under the eyes. On the contrary, an aortic aneurysm or arrhythmias provoke swelling of the eyes and limbs.

The kidneys are the main organ that removes fluid from the body. When their function is impaired, swelling appears, including on the face.

Gastrointestinal diseases

Almost any pathology of the gastrointestinal tract leads to impaired absorption of nutrients. At the same time, the body is acutely experiencing a lack of vitamins and microelements. In chronic gastrointestinal pathology, general metabolism and the removal of toxic digestive waste are disrupted. Dark circles under the eyes are often caused by constipation, and even in women (not only children) they can indicate a helminthic infestation.

Poisoning of the body can be associated with a constant intake of toxic substances (from food or air), but most often intoxication, leading to the appearance of circles under the eyes, is the result of an infectious disease.

This is observed with pyelonephritis, intestinal infections, sore throat, influenza and other diseases accompanied by fever. However, even simple nasal congestion and swelling of its mucous membrane can also cause swelling in the eye area.

Age - physiological factors

Age-related changes, including those of the skin, are the most unpleasant cause for women of the appearance of dark circles and bags under the eyes. With age, the amount of collagen in the skin rapidly decreases. The skin of the eyelids becomes even thinner and is subject to excessive overstretching.

Many cosmetologists claim that excessive fat deposition is to blame for “problem” eyes. However, as recent studies have shown, many older women have circles and bags under their eyes due to a simple lack of fat.

This is very important when choosing a plastic correction method.

The color of dark circles under the eyes tells a lot

The shade of dark circles under the eyes will help to guess the nature of the disorder in the body:

If the darkening of the eye area is especially obvious in the morning, it is a sign of lack of sleep or dehydration.
A bluish lower eyelid indicates problems with blood circulation.
Dark blue circles are a companion for heavy smokers.
Black circles under the eyes are a sign of chronic intestinal disease.
Blue circles with a greenish tint are often observed with inflammation of the kidneys, a sign of intoxication of the body.
A grayish tint to the lower eyelids may also indicate gynecological pathology or endocrine disease.
Yellowish lower eyelid - appears with liver diseases and biliary tract pathologies.
Reddish bags under the eyes - an allergic reaction should be ruled out.
Red and blue circles most often indicate heart problems.

Dark circles - can they be dangerous?

Taking into account modern realities - constant psychological stress, harmful additives in food, a polluted environment and the prevalence of bad habits (smoking, alcohol) - the absence of dark circles under the eyes for a woman is worth constant efforts and restrictions. And, if most often it is enough to get a good night's sleep, adjust your water regime and nutrition, some conditions require medical consultation.

Serious causes of black circles under the eyes in women, requiring evaluation by a qualified doctor, often provoke the following situations:

Bags and circles do not last for a long time and certainly do not depend on lack of sleep, stress and other external factors;
Swelling under the eyes appeared suddenly, along with a watery runny nose - an allergic reaction is probably developing, fraught with serious consequences (for example, Quincke's edema, bronchial asthma);
The circles are accompanied by fever, pain in the lower back - suspicion of renal pathology;
Dark circles under the eyes are accompanied by dizziness, even loss of consciousness - acute brain disease should be excluded;
Bags under the eyes develop against a background of shortness of breath and palpitations - a suspicion of heart disease.

How to get rid of circles and bags under the eyes?

Understand the reasons, don't mask them!

The tactics of a woman who notices dark circles or bags under her eyes can be divided into emergency care, corrective measures and constructive treatment.

Emergency help for bags under the eyes:

washing with cold water or applying ice cubes, such as rose water;
compress of finely grated potatoes, parsley, sage infusion;
the use of special correctors containing caffeine;
lightly rubbing shea butter into the lower eyelids;
applying a mixture of cottage cheese and soda;
trivial camouflage of dark circles - to eliminate dark color, apply thick red blush or, in extreme cases, red lipstick to the lower eyelids, and only then foundation and powder.

Recommendations that should become a habit:

Thoroughly wash off makeup at night. Using special products when caring for the skin of the eyelids.
Use only high-quality cosmetic products to avoid allergic reactions.
Correction of the work and rest regime - breaks every hour when working at the computer. Sleep at least 7-8 hours, fall asleep at 22-23 hours.
Review of gastronomic preferences, consumption of sufficient amounts of liquid.
Perform an eye massage with light movements, strictly along the massage lines - from the outer corner of the eye to the inner corner along the lower eyelid and vice versa - along the upper.

You should even contact a cosmetologist to select cosmetics that suit your skin type and emerging problems. Beauty salons can also offer procedures that will help quickly and permanently get rid of dark circles under the eyes. Depending on the nature and degree of sagging of the lower eyelids, the intensity of the color of the circles and the financial capabilities of the woman, the cosmetologist chooses:

Salon mini-traumatic procedures - laser therapy, treatment with microcurrents (lymphatic drainage) and Darsonval currents, photorejuvenation (especially in the presence of pigmentation on the eyelids);
Microinjections - Botox/Dysport, hyaluronic acid (biorevitalization), biologically active substances (mesotherapy);
Plastic surgery - lipolifting (pumping out excess fat from the eyelids or restoring subcutaneous tissue if it is insufficient), excision of excessive stretching of the eyelids (the scar is invisible, located along the eyelash growth line).

Why do I have bags under my eyes? (English)

Why do I have bags under my eyes?